In many ways, Ossining is a microcosm of Westchester—a changing community composed of people with widely differing backgrounds and needs. The New York Community Trust – Westchester has long been part of the collaborative efforts to reshape the Hudson hamlet.
“This is an amazing community,” said Laura Rossi, vice president The Trust – Westchester. “We are delighted to see our work developing the capacity of nonprofits and convening donors coming to fruition in so many ways.”
In 1813, Sing Sing became the first state-chartered village in Westchester. A century later, the village changed its name to Ossining in order to distance itself from the infamous granite prison erected in the late 1820s and that remains its largest employer.
Changes in Ossining
Today, the school system reflects the village’s evolving demographics and needs. Sixty-five percent of students are Latinx, and more than 60 percent of children qualify for free or reduced lunch. Our grants to the Ossining Union Free School District are helping meet the mental-health needs of students and their families, and providing expertise on how to successfully create a high school pre-apprenticeship program that can lead to manufacturing jobs in Ossining.
This year, The Trust – Westchester also worked with four village residents to establish the Ossining BELL Equity Fund, which is aimed at removing barriers to success for local public-school students.
To bring attention to Ossining’s progress, we arranged a downtown walking tour where visitors learned about Open Door Family Medical Center, a free health clinic that began in a church basement with volunteer doctors. Today, it serves 60,000 people a year with medical, dental, and behavioral-health services. A new campus in the heart of the village will strengthen its presence, integrate behavioral health care into primary care, and promote wellness in the African American community.
Helping kids develop
Another stop on the tour was the 128-year-old Ossining Children’s Center, which was founded to serve the children of immigrant widows, and was one of the first day care centers in the country. Our grants expanded its capacity to help low-income families meet the needs of children with disabilities. “One of Ossining’s strengths is the cultural and economic diversity of the community,” said Howard Milbert, the Center’s executive director. “Every child’s experience is enriched when they are learning with children of different backgrounds.”
Mayor Rika Levin said that $30 million in federal and state funding, awarded over the past four years, will make Ossining more walkable, bikeable, and attractive to visitors, residents, and businesses alike. The resulting public-private partnerships will create mixed-use developments, affordable housing, and a multi-modal transportation hub, along with enhanced outdoor and indoor recreation and entertainment space.
“Ossining is such a welcoming community,” Rossi said. “The Trust – Westchester is happy to facilitate people coming together to help their neighbors, whatever challenges may arise.”